A 41-year-old man identified as Abdulfatai was burnt to death in a fire incident that occurred in the early hours of Monday at No 158 Alaparun compound, Isale Alore, Ilorin in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.
TheNigerian Metro gathered that the fire, which was caused by an ignition in a room stored with combustible materials which included petrol and batteries, engulfed a residential building comprising 35 rooms in the area at about 2 am on Monday.
The deceased, who was said not to have been a resident of the building affected by the fire, was reported to have come from the Alate compound in the Abayawo area of Ilorin to pass the night in his friend’s house when the incident occurred.
The Kwara State Fire Service, which confirmed the incident in a statement by the head of Media and Publicity, PFO Hassan Adekunle, said about five rooms were completely destroyed in the fire.
Adekunle said that the fire service was able to save 30 rooms from the 35-room apartment engulfed by fire.
“On Monday, December 9, 2024, at 02:07 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service promptly responded to a distress call reporting a fire at No. 158, Ile Alaparun Isale, Alore, Ilorin, Kwara State.
“A fire truck and its crew swiftly arrived at the scene to combat the blaze at a dwelling of about 35 rooms. Upon arrival, the fire had already engulfed some rooms, but the firefighters worked diligently to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing its spread to other areas.
“Ultimately, five rooms were affected, while 30 rooms were successfully saved”, the statement said.
“Tragically, the fire claimed the life of a 41-year-old man, identified as AbdulFatai from Ile Alate, Abayawo. He had come to spend the night at a friend’s residence but was unable to escape due to intense smoke, which rendered him unconscious”, the fire service further said.
Adekunle said the body of the deceased man was handed over to his family by the fire service after the firefighting operation in the area.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by spontaneous ignition in a room storing combustible materials, including petrol, batteries, and a tyre inflator engine”, the statement said.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, extended his heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family and the Magaji of Ile Alaparun.
Falade also emphasised the critical importance of adhering to safety precautions to prevent fire hazards.
